Safety razor



yoct.' 9, 1945. D, BENSEL 2,386,536

` y SAFETY RAZOR 'A' Filed April s, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 2 1 safety type.

whose blade-,supportingY head Vis Patented Oct. 9, 1945 UNITED STATES OFFICE 2,386,536 d vSAFETYlenzon". Y, Y DuryeaBenscl., Los Angeles, vAppiieatim April s, 16,44, serial m1529345 (ci. :io-6s) f Claims.

This invention relates generally to cui-,tinglinstruments and more particularly to razors of the An `object of this invention is to provide' a safety razor structurally characterized Vby being i Y composed of f a few simply and inexpensively constructed parts which are releasably. retained assembled in a Working position for rapid, smooth shaving with the utmostconvenience, or readily arranged to form an extremely compact andflat parcel for carrying in the pocket, all While en+ abling the razor'parts to -be` instantly disassembled for cleaning or sterilizing with ease and dispatch.

A further object of this invention is to provide a safety razor of theabove described character adjustably mounted on a spring handle having means automatically co-acting under the resiliency of the handle, to rigidly hold the head With the cutting blade disposed at a convenient angle to the yhandle for shaving, or generally parallel kto the length of thehandle to form the compact parcel forcarrying in the pocket, all With but a simple manipulation of the handle y With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of elements as set forth in the followingw speciiicationy and particularlypointed out in the appended claims. Y In the accompanying drawings, Y

Y Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of safety razor Yembodying this invention,

andillustrating the relation of therazor partsfor shaving;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken Vthe razor parts related to'provigdev a flat,` compact parcel when not in use; f,

Figure 5is a transverse sectional view Ataken on the line 5,-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the topelement for thecutting blade;

Figure 7 is a perspectiveview of theguar l elementfor the cutting blade;

Figure 8 isa perspective View of the handle; Figure 9 is a perspective view of one design of the conventionaldouble edged flexible wafer type cutting blade adapted to be usedinthe razon' Figure lOis `a longitudinalsectional Viewv ofy vanother form of safetyrazor,embodyingthis in. 55;

vention, andshoWing-"the relation of the shaving head and handle forshaving;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view taken lon the lineI II',I I of`fFigure 10;

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional View taken ori-thel line IZTIZ of vFigure 10; n

, Figure 13 .is aperspective view of the top or clamping element of the form of safety razor shown .in Figures 10Vt 12; Y

Figure lllV is al perspective view of the guard element;A and l k Figure 15 is a, perspective view of the handle.

Referring specically'l'to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, this' form of safety razor comprises a shavinghead S and Ya handlev H, theshavinghead being composed ofthe bottom or guard element YIll and the top or 'clamping element II adaptedto receive the conventional 'double edgedrazor blade B (Figure `9lfftherebetween for co-actionwith the handle H' in rigidly clamping the' blade flatly in a shaving position. j

" The guard' and `clamping elements lil and vII arev inv theform/ of fiat, rectangular metal or .plastic plates which can be diecast or molded.

These parts are "substantially co-extensive in lengthwitn the blade 'B,1 with the Width of the guard" element I0 exceedingthat ofthe blade andk having its continuous Vguarding edges I2 rounded towardsrits side confronting the blade. Suitable openings'Ia are provided in the guard element IU adjacent its edges IZfor the free passage of` whisker-cuttings'and soap or shaving cream so as `to prevent'cloggingl of the blade. The width of the clamping element -I'I is slightly less than that ofthe blade for co-action 'with tne rounded -edges- I2 of theguard element Ilu in exposing the two cutting edges'l3and I4 of the bladefor shaving when the parts are assembled as shown particularly in Figure '2.Y The guard element4 Illis provided with a longitudinal slot-I5' receiving a positioning projection for ribV I6 projecting from the top element I I .and adapted to also. pass through'a central 1ongitudinalslot. I'I in the Ablade B` to .relate and conflnethe elements and blade in parallelism.

being increased from .003" to .005". Thus, as the slot I5 and openings I8 in the guard element are symmetrically arranged about the center line a, whereas the slot Il and its enlarged portions 20 of the standard type of double edged blade B are exactly centered between its two cutting edges I3 and I 4, it will be clear that when the guard and top elements are assembled with the blade therebetween, one cutting edge will project from the respective round-ed guarding edge I2- Vof the guard elementk Ia greater distance by .003 to .005" than will the other cutting edge from its respective guarding edge I2. By this relationship from the guarding edge I2 will provide alfieavy` or close shave, whereas the other cutting edge will provide a light shave.

The top element II is provided along ritsftwc longitudinal edges with the indicia l and 2 respectively, as indicated'in broken lines inA Figure 6, to designate lightand close shaves.' In order to properly relatethe top element Il end for end with the guard-elemental!) sov that the correct indicia 1"or' 2 `will-be at that guarding edge I2 of the guard element for the v-colresponding type of'shavethe elements are provided on one end with suitable identiiyi'ng marks or indentations 2I and 22, which; when arranged -at the same end 'ofm the shaving lhead as shown in Figures 4 and 5, correctly relate the guard vand topfelements-end for 'end'.4

The handle H is'composedjoia lengthv ofspring tempered wire of non-circular 'and -prefe`rably square crosss'ection'as shown. The handle is formed into generally U shape to lprei/idea pair of spaced spring aris 23 "terminatlng'at "one end ina connecting bight 24 and atV the other end in lateral attaching' portions "25,' These 'attache ing 'portions or' tr'unliins prjt substantially 'at a right angleoutwardly frin the respective arms 23, and are adapted to be freely', yet hon-rotatably received'in openings 2'6 lin the attaching lugs l5, when theshaving head Sv occupies the right angular andparall'el positions relative to t'hefha-V dle H as shown inF'igures l2l and 2l"res'pectivel'y'.` 'The attaching por/tionsf 25'o`f thewhandle have two of their right' angularly related sides infA clined to provide Awedge or cam surfaces 2l and 28 respectively, whereas"l the other two sides are non-inclined to provide bearing surfaces'Zlland 30 co-actable with, the respective oppositely ref lated cam surfaces in amanner to be described in the operation, of the invention which is as fol-v lows: i Assuming that the parts are disassembled, the blade B is placed over the rib I6 and lugs I90f the inverted clamping element I I, followingrwhich the guard element I0 is placed over the blade to receive the rib and lugs in the slot I and openings I8, respectively. With these twoparts and theblade held assembled.; in one` hand-.the .arms 23 of thehandle H are grasped and Aforced. towards each other .sufficiently for the attaching portions .25 to be inserted into the openingsl, with the handlein its right angularly .related or parallel position of Figure v2 or Figure, 4, according as the razor is to be used oriplaced in a suitable case (not shown) -for carrying.` Y

Upon releasing the arms'2-3-in the shaving-po sition of the razor vshow-nin- F-g-ure 1,n 2-and 3, the arms urge the attaching-portions thereof into the respective openings 26 cfthe-top element II, so that the camsurfacesiZ-l andbppositely,

related bearing surfaces 29 of such portions coact with a wall of the openings and with the bottom confronting surface of the guard element I0 to draw the latter and top element Il towards each other with suicient force to tightly clamp the blade B between the elements, and to rigidly connect the latter as well as to rigidly support the head S in shaving position on the handle.

n With the arms 23 released in the parallel position `of the `handle shown in Figures 4 and 5, so that the arms urge their attaching portions 25 into the respective openings 26 of the top element II, the other cam surfaces 23 and the oppositely related bearing surfaces 30 of the portions 25 co-act with a wall of the openings 25 and with the bottom confronting surface of the guard element I0 to draw the latter and top element towards each other with suflicient force to rigidly lock the elements together with the blade clamped therebetween, and to' rigidly support the handle in its parallel or non-'use position so as to make a flat, compact parcel of the razor. It will be clear from the foregoing description that in both positions of the handle, it serves to rigidly support'and automatically lock the guard and top elements together with the blade clamped tightly therebetween, so as to dispense with all extraneous fastening means.

llfteference will now be had to Figures l0 to l5 inclusive which illustrate a' second form of safety razor comprising a shaving headfS and a handleH. The shaving head is composed of a guard element 40 and a top or clamping Aelement 4I which are flat rectangularV metal or plastic plates diecast or molded. The elements VIII) and 4I are substantially lcoextens`ive in length with the blade B, and the guard element exceeds the blade in width tov provide rounded longitudinal guarding edges 42,"adjacent to which 'are suitable openings #Ila for Whisker cuttings and soap. The two cutting edges I3 and I4 of the blade are exposed frm the longitudinal edges of the top element I I for the shaving operation when the razor parts are assembled for use as in Figures 10 and l1. Y v Y The guard element `lll -is provided with longitudinally spaced andextending slots 45 receiving correspondingly spaced positioning projections or ribs 46 projecting from the top element 4I, and adapted to--also pass through vthe longitudinal slot I'l Vin the bladeB to relateand confine theelements` 4U and ilI'in'parallelis'm. 'The guard element 40 is alsopr'ovlded with 'a central `opening 'I0 intermediate the slots 115, through which opening projects a threaded stud T1 `from the top element 4I. A flat, knur-led nutf'l -is adapted to be tightly screwed upon the stud llto firmly clamp the blade B in'aliat'po'sition between the elements 40 anddl.'

It will be noted from Figure 12 that 'the relation of the center' .line d "to theulongitudinal guardingedges #i2v of the'gu'ard element 40, is the same as that described in connection with the rst form of the` .invention toV s'o relate the cutting edges I3 and I4 ofthe blade to the Vguarding` edges 42 as 'to providelightandheavy shaves from the respective vedges. .for a double edge blade without. anyadiustment of the razor. Therefore, further ,detail description of this feature of the invention will bedispensed with.A i l The `indicia. fl-and fz Vare provided along the longi',udinaledges vof thetcp element 4i, and the identifyingfmarks `or indentations 5I and vdescribeds.; f The kguard element dll-is provided adjacent its end; and1=along .the center line 5 a Vwith attaching lugs `49'1 vfor co-eactionv withthe :handle H' which isicomposed, of a length of, spring Y,tempered wire preferably round in crosssection.,y {Ihisihandle is formeddnto generallyulshape to provide a painof spaced'vspringearms 53. terminating at. 4 onen-fend inl, a, connecting. bight Y51| and at the other .end in lateralattaching portions or trunnions55. .These attaching portions project, outwardly -from VVthe vrespective arms 53 -andzhave thergends -reduced in diameter to -providepivot pins '13 rotatably mountedinalined bores 'I4 in .the'elugsfaf l? 1. l...

Atvthe junction between the pins ,13. and the full diameter Vofithe attaching portions 55, `.the

. latter are oppositely beveledat diametrically opposed locations. toprovide wedge .surfaces 15 forming asymmetrical doublewedge and adaptsdtaseat in .a -Yzshaped groove .15. formed .in the confronting', .Sides of theattaChine-,lugs 49.. .to

intersect the bores 14 as shown.

' relatively to each other with suflicient force .to

leasably retaining the shaving head S' in right angular yrelationship to the handle with sufficient security forfshaving. However, additional manual force applied to the handle HV in a direction to rotate same about the axis of the attaching vportions 55 will cause the wedge surfaces 15-to act as cams against the walls of the grooves 16 in opposition to the normal outwardly urging tendency of the arms 53, so as to shift the attaching portions 55 axially towards each other until the wedge surfaces are entirelyl clear of the grooves upon 90 degree rotational movement between the head and handle to their parallel relationship shown in Figures 1l and 12. It will be clear that in this position, the razor forms a flat, compact parcel so as to enable it to be conveniently carried about in a suitable flat case (not shown).

AlthoughV only two forms of the invention have been shown and described, it will be'understood thatvarious modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention andthe Yspirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: Y

1. A safety razor comprising: a shaving head including a guard element and av top element co-acting to confine a cutting blade therebetween for shaving therewith; a handle having spring arms; lateral attaching portions on said arms co-acting with the shaving head to mount same on the handle for adjustment to occupy shaving and non-use positions; and cam means on said attaching portions co-acting with one of said elements in response to the spring urging'action of said arms, to rigidly retain .the shaving head in its shaving position relative to the handle.

2. A safety razor comprising: a shaving head including a guard element and a top element coacting to confine a cutting blade therebetween for shaving therewith; one of said elements havingV attaching lugs provided with openings; a

handle including spring arms provided with lateral attaching-portions .urgeddnto saidpenings by the spring action of saidarmsyandmeans; on ,saidlattachingportions co-.acting with said lugs o rigidly retain; the shaving ,headyin a.l shaving :position relativeto the handle.

v3. A safety razor comprising; a` shaving head including/ a guard element and atop, e1ement.co acting to conne a cutting blade therebetween Aforfshaving therewith; one oi said elements hav;-

-ing attachin g lugs y.provided with openings; a

handle including spring arms 4provided with lateralattaching portions urgedfinto said openings underthe spring action ofsaid arms; and means defining camv surfaces on said attaching *P015 `tions. cio-acting with said lugsunder the spring actionl of said arms, to releasably retain the shav ingl head rigidly. in; f a Vshaving position ,reiative tothehandle. .1

4. A. safety razor. comprising; a shaving, heg-d 20 including aguard element and a top elementpof acting to rconfine a cutting...blade therebetween for shaving therewith; one of said elements-having attachingl lugs .-provifded' with openings;H a generally U- shaped Y handle defining spaced spring arms having lateral attaching. at their free ends, urgedinto said openings under .thel spring'factio'n of said arms; 'and cams o n said attaching' portions lcoacting with said lugs `to releasably retain-the shaving head rigidly a shaving'positon'rel'ative to the handle".m y H 5. A safety razor comprising: a shaving head including a guard element and a top element; said elements having means co-actable with a cutting' blade to dispose same between the elements with the cutting edge of the blade exposed for shaving; a handle; means on the handle andV one of said elements co-acting to force the elements towards each other and clamp the blade between the elements with the shaving head rig- 40 idly supported on the handle in one position for shaving; and means on the handle co-acting with said one of the elements to secure the elements together and support same on the handle in a second position wherein the razor forms a hat parcel. 6. A safety razor comprising: a shaving head including a guard element and a top element adapted to receive a cutting blade therebetween; the top element having attaching lugs provided with openings of non-circular cross section; a

handle including spring arms having lateral attaching portions of non-circular cross section non-rotatably received in said openings and urged thereinto under the spring action of said arms; and cams on said portions operable in response to the spring urging action of said arms 'to draw the elements towardsV each other into clamping engagement with a blade and to rigidly connect the elements to the handle in a position for shaving with the blade.

7; A safety razorcomprising: `a shaving head including a guard element and a top element adapted to receive a cutting blade therebetween; the top element having attaching lugs provided with openings of non-circular cross section; a handle including spring arms having lateral attaching portions of non-circular cross section non-rotatably received in said openings and urged thereinto under the springaction of said arms; cams on said portions operable in response to the spring action of said arms to draw the elements towards each other into clamping engagement with a blade and to rigidly connect the elements to the handle in a position for shaving with the blade; and other cams on said portions by which the elements and handle are caused to be rigidly maintained connected .with the'. eements lroy'- ltatabily-ad-justed relative to the handie to .a sec*- onld position wherein the razorforms a flat parcei. lfksafety razor comprising:` ashaving head including a guardfelement and a top Vclermont adapted to' receive-a cutting blade therebetween;

the eiement having a positioning -ribl and attaching lugs at opposite ends thereof'- provided opposite ends 'thereof respectively receiving said lribs and ings; and a-generally lil-shaped handle including springarms vhavingV lateral attaching portions of square cross section non-rotatably re -ceived in said' lug opening'ssaid attaching por- With openings of square-cross section; theguard Y Yelement having a` positioning slot and openings a-t assesses eled cam grooves intersecting sai'd. bores; a nut threaded on said;v stud to clamp the elements against the cutting blade; and a generally U- shaped: handle includinglspring arms having attaching lportions terminating in `pins rotatably mounted in said bores, and beveled surffimzsY co.- acting with said cam groovesl to releasably retain the shavinghead in a shaving position relative tothe handle, yet yielding tol rotational force appl'ied to: the handle; to enableY same. toh be rotated relative to the head to a non-use position i which the razor forms a' ii-'at parcel.

l0. A safety razor comprising: a shaving head rincluding' a guard element and a top element adapted to receive a cutting blade-therebetween; oney ot said elements having a threaded stud vpassing through the otherelement; a nut on said vstud for clamping the elem-ents together; a spring handle; means' on the handle andi one of -said elements' rotatably mounting the shaving head on the handle to occupy shaving and non-use positions; and means on the handle and said one of `the elements coi-acting to releasably retain the saving head rigidly in 'shaving position under spring action of the handle, yet yielding to rotational force applied to the handle, to pennit the head and handle tobe relativelyrotated to rion-v use position. Y v v DURYEA BENSEL. 

